West Ham Signs Mateus Fernandes from Southampton for £40m

West Ham have signed Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes from Southampton in a deal exceeding £40 million, making it their third-biggest signing. Fernandes, 21, joins on a five-year contract, aiming to boost his chances for the Portugal World Cup squad after a season at Southampton where he made 46 appearances and was a fan favorite. Southampton manager Will Still acknowledged the difficulty of retaining Fernandes, who wanted to leave for career progression, and emphasized focusing on players committed to the club's future. Southampton are actively reinforcing their squad amid the summer transfer window's closing, targeting West Brom's winger Tom Fellows as a marquee signing to replace Tyler Dibling, who recently transferred to Everton. The potential signing of Fellows, praised for his strong 2024/25 season, is part of Southampton's efforts to strengthen their attacking options ahead of their Championship fixtures. Additional Southampton signings like Finn Azaz from Middlesbrough signal their intent to rebuild following key departures.